Can-wiping machine



:(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. H. POTTER. (JAN WIPING MACHINE.

No. 540,597. Patented June 4, 1895.

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WitnQSSQS:

Attorney.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. POTTER. CAN WIPING MACHINE.

No. 540,597. ,Patented J'une 4, 1895.

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Attorney.

UNITED :ST TEs PATENT ()FFICE.

EDWVIN H. POTTER, OF MOUND CITY, MISSOURI.

CAN-WlPlNG MACHINE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,597, dated June 4, 1895. Application filed November 27, 1894- Serial No. 530,104. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mound City, in the county of Holt and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Wiping Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an apparatus designed for wiping the tops of cans after they have been filled and preparatory to capping; my principal object being to provide a machine of this class in which the cans may be placed in a canway above'a traveling carrier and moved by the latter beneath brushes adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane, said brushes being made vertically adjustable to suit cans of difierent heights and also to compensate for wear.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means whereby. the brushes may be swung up out of the horizontal plane in order to permit them to be readily and easily cleaned.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my improved can-wiping machine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, certain parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the machine, part of the frame being broken off.

A isthe frame of the machine, provided at its front end with a rearwardly-projecting shelf a, and at each end with two cross-bars a and (1 B is the power-shaft, journaled in bearings secured to the frame. On one end of this shaft is secured a large pulley C, over which passes a belt D leading from any suitable source of power; and on the same shaft, near pulley O, is fixed a smaller pulley E. On the opposite end of shaft B is secured a gearwheel F, which meshes with a larger gearwheel G, mounted on a short shaft H, journaled in the frame and in bearings 1 secured to the under side of the canway, hereinafter described. 7

I is the canway, mounted on the cross-bars side pieces.

a of the frame A. It consists simply of two side pieces of the proper height, to which is secured a bottom piece i, slotted longitudinally, as shown in the drawings, this bottom piece extending some distance in front of the From the front end of the side pieces extend rods 2, which pass through arms 3 secured to the bottom piece, thus leaving this portion of the canway open, as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2,the distance between these rods and also the distance between the side pieces being slightly greater than the diameter of the ordinary fruit or vegetable can.

Journaled in bearings 4, secured to the under side of the front of the canway, is mounted a sprocketwheel J, over which passes a sprocket carrier-chain K, which passes up into and along the slot in the bottom piece, slightly beneath the upper surface of the bottom piece, and over another sprocket-wheel L fixed on shaft H, this chain being provided at suitable intervals with small spurs 5, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A cross belt e connects pulley E with another pulley M, fixed on a vertical shaft N, journaled at its lower end in the shelf a and near its upper end in a bracket 19 rising from frame A, said shaft N also carrying another pulley O, adjustably secured thereon.

For the purpose of adapting the brushes to vertical adjustment, and also to permit them to be turned up out of the horizontal plane in order that they may be conveniently cleaned,l mount them in an auxiliary frame, which consists of two end pieces P and a connecting-bar Q. The auxiliary frame is adjustably connected to the main frame by two yokes B, one at each end. Each yoke has a short leaf 6 hinged to it, as at 7, at one end, said leaf being secured to the frame A, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. From each yoke rises two slotted lugs 0, through which loosely pass set-screws s, which take into the end piece P. To each yoke, opposite the hinge, is secured a book 8, adapted to engage with any suitable catch on the frame A.

S represents screw-rods, two of which pass vertically through each end piece of the aux iliary frame and bear at'their lower ends on the yoke B. By loosening the set-screws s and turning the screw-rods S the auxiliary ICO small pulleys 10 and 11 fixed on the shaftsTl and U, respectively, these pulleys being connected by a belt 12; and on the upper end of shaft U is adjustably fixed another small pulley u, connected by a belt 13 with pulley O on shaft N. Each of the brushes Vis surrounded bya thin metal guard VV,supported by brackets 14 secured to the canway,

Underneath the canway is a trough X, resting on the cross-bars a of the frame A, for carrying off the refuse from the wiped cans. In operation, power being applied to the main shaft B in the direction indicated by the arrows, the attendant, standing at the front end of the machine, places the filled cans on the bottom of the canway, when the spurs 5 on the carrier will engage the bottom edge of the cans and carry the 'cans forward in the canwa and under the brushes, when by the revolution of the brushes the tops of the cans will be thoroughly wiped, after Which they will pass onward through the oanway to any suitable delivery. When it is desired to clean the brushes, the hooksS will be disengaged from their catches and the belt 13 thrown from its pulleys, which Will permit the auxiliary frame and the attached brushes to be swung over so as to bring the brushes into a vertical position, thus permitting them to be readily cleaned. When the auxiliary frame is in its normal position the auxiliary frame is rendered adjustable and capable of being swung out of operative position, for the purposes stated.

2. In a can-wiping machine, the combination, with the main frame, of an auxiliary frame consisting of end pieces and a connecting-bar, two yokes, each having a hinged leaf secured to the main frame, adjustably secured to the end pieces, and brushes revolubly mounted in the connecting-bar, substantially as described.

3. In a can-wiping machine, the combination, with the main frame, of an auxiliary frame consisting of two end pieces and acounecting-bar, two yokes, each'of which has a hinged leaf secured to the main frame and two slotted lugs connected with each end piece of the auxiliary frame by headed pins, screw-rods passing through said end pieces and bearing on the yokes, and brushes revolubly mounted in the auxiliary frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN H. POTTER. Witnesses:

W. M. HAMSHER, CLARENCE F. I-IAMsHnR. 

